The Role of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in Addressing the Challenges of Global Shipping
On 13 March 2026, the 1st Academic Conference on International Maritime Law was held at the Amphitheatre of the Old School of Philosophy at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, under the title “International Navigation in 2050: Its Future in a Changing World of Challenges and Innovation.”
In his address, the IMO Maritime Ambassador to Greece, Mr. Dimitriadis Evgenidis, analyzed the pivotal role of shipping in the global economy, noting that it constitutes an “invisible yet critical infrastructure” that carries 90% of world trade.
Emphasizing the significant role of the IMO, he presented the historical background of the organization’s establishment, its objectives, as well as the full range of core conventions governing ship safety, environmental protection, seafarer training, labor rights, and liability/compensation in shipping.
He analyzed current challenges: geopolitical tensions, the need for global regulations, decarbonization by 2050, the energy transition, new fuels, the digital transition, cybersecurity, and Europe’s dynamic role.
In closing, he underlined that the shipping of the future will be shaped not only on ships and in shipyards, but also “in the rooms where international rules are written.
